ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Academic Requirements

All students must carry six subjects, and all students must be scheduled for a lunch. Promotion to the sophomore class requires six (6) credits; promotion to the junior class requires twelve (12) credits; promotion to the senior class requires eighteen (18) credits. Students not meeting these requirements will not be invited back for the fall semester.

A student who does not meet the above requirements due to class failure is expected to attend summer school and acquire the necessary credits. Summer school courses that are offered at St. Pius X High School MUST be taken at the school. Exceptions must be approved by the administration. Courses listed as “required for graduation” in the course description are to be taken at St. Pius or an approved site if summer school is necessary to make up a failure in that course.

Minimum Course Load

All students will be required to enroll in 7 courses each semester. All students are encouraged to take 7 courses, but if a student and parent feel a study hall is necessary, the student can choose a study hall. No credit is awarded for Study Hall.

Classes of 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Twenty-four (24) credits are required for graduation. These must include:

NOTE: *The Communication Skills requirement may be fulfilled by competency in both speaking and writing skills in a language other than English (2 units) or 1 unit of Developmental Psychology and 1 unit of Independent Living.

Note: Developmental Psychology and Independent Living do not satisfy the Modern and Classical (foreign) Language requirement necessary for admission to many colleges/universities.

**Information Technology will no longer be required, beginning with the class of 2025. *** Beginning with the class of 2025, students will be required to take 1 semester (.5 unit of credit) in Fine Arts. The requirements for other electives beginning with class of 2025 will be 4 semesters (2 units of credit).

Courses will only be offered if minimum enrollment guidelines are met. The master schedule is based on student request and available teacher staffing. To ensure course availability, students should make every effort to submit their course selection forms on time. Courses offered in even years will begin in the fall of 2022-2023, 2024-2025, 2026-2027, 20282029. Courses offered in odd years will begin in the fall of 2023-2024, 2025-2026, 2027-2028, 2029-2030.

*Most universities require two years of the same foreign language. Three years is recommended.

Course sections in English, Mathematics, and Classical and Modern Languages are available to meet the needs of various student abilities. Assignment to special course sections will be made by counselors and department personnel with final approval given by the Assistant Principal-Academics.

Because of the amount of work required in Advanced Placement (AP) and Honor courses, students will be allowed to take no more than 3 courses each year. Students who wish to enroll in more than 3 Honors or AP courses must receive permission from the Administration. Students MUST take a lunch.

POLICY & PROCEDURES FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT

Purpose - Every New Mexico high school student has the opportunity to enroll in college courses through the Dual Credit (DC) Program. The DC Program provides access to Academic and Career, as well as technical education (CTE) courses that deliver simultaneous credit toward high school graduation and a postsecondary degree or certificate. Dual Enrollment courses may only be taken for elective credit and listed as such on the St. Pius X High School transcript College grades are also reflected on the college transcript. Only College-level courses numbered 1000 or higher are allowed. Fitness courses are excluded from the Dual Enrollment Program. Students may not take a dual enrollment course to meet a core graduation requirement or take a course that is already offered at the high school. A 3-4 college credit course earned at the postsecondary institution results in 1 high school elective credit. Tuition and registration fees for postsecondary institutions are waived. Textbooks, distance learning fees, course/lab fees, and transportation costs are the responsibility of the student.

Students are eligible for Dual Enrollment beginning as a sophomore. Eligibility requirements to enroll in Dual Enrollment courses are established by the postsecondary institution and may vary with each institution and the desired course the student would like to enroll in. Students must see their SPX counselor to obtain approval and information prior to enrolling in any Dual Enrollment course. The Dual Enrollment institutions that SPX is working with at this time, are CNM, Dine College, and Navajo Tech University.

CNM DUAL CREDIT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS - A Dual Credit student must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be enrolled at least half time as a high school sophomore, junior or senior

• Have proof of current high school enrollment

• Have not received a high school diploma or high school equivalency (GED or HiSET)

Take college-level courses numbered 1000 or higher. Most fitness courses are excluded from the Dual Credit program

• Meet course prerequisites by submitting ACT/SAT scores at a CNM Admission Office or take CNM’s Accuplacer Placement Exam to test for college-level course placement.

Procedures for enrolling as a Dual Enrollment student - Students who wish to enroll in Dual Enrollment are required to the following:

1. A student must meet with their counselor to discuss their plans to take Dual Enrollment courses.

2. The student will receive information on applying to the postsecondary institution and enrolling in a class as a Dual Enrollment student. The SPX Dual Enrollment form must be signed by the student, parent(s), and supported by the counselor prior to submitting it to administration for approval.

3. Students will complete all necessary documents and submit them as required by the postsecondary institution in a timely manner.

4. Students will complete any orientation or tutorials required as part of the admissions process.

5. Students will schedule and meet with an Academic Coach at CNM to select courses. Reminder: SPX has a rotating schedule; therefore, most postsecondary classes cannot be taken during the day. Classes should be scheduled outside of the SPX school day (before/after school or weekends).

6. Some courses may require a placement exam. If an ACT or SAT score is available, the student may submit those scores along with their application. If no scores are available, the student will have an option to: 1) do the English & IRW Directed Self-Placement Tool to help the student select the appropriate reading and/or writing course for your learning needs and abilities, but it is not a placement test or exam, or 2) take the Accuplacer. The student must schedule an appointment to take the Accuplacer for any course requiring a math placement.

7. Remember: St. Pius X must approve your registration. SPX will receive information about the course(s) you have registered for. If the course(s) are not approved, they will be dropped from your schedule.

Cnm Dual Credit Enrollment Process

Dual Credit students are encouraged to meet with their high school counselor prior to enrolling in the Dual Credit Program. Once a student has met with their counselor, they follow the enrollment steps as outlined below.

1. Complete the online admissions application.

2. Submit the required Dual Credit Agreement Form signed by both parent and student. within five days of admission. Enrollment Services keeps forms on file.

3. Set-up a myCNM student account. myCNM is a student’s portal for all CNM-related. business including registration, requesting transcripts, accessing CNM email, etc.

4. Complete the Dual Credit new student orientation online.

5. Submit official ACT or SAT scores or take CNM’s Accuplacer exam.

6. Meet with a CNM Dual Credit Academic Coach to discuss course options.

7. Register online for classes for which prerequisites have been met. More detailed information available at: cnm.edu/dualcredit

Dual Credit Grade Reports

Final Dual Credit grade reports are sent to the high school with current Dual Credit enrolled students at the close of the term. Dual Credit students generate a CNM transcript and earn elective credit on their high school transcript. The Dual Credit Council has delineated a 3:1 ratio for credit transcription. For each 3credit college course, a student will earn 1 high school elective credit. SPX will enter the course(s) and grades onto the student’s high school transcript at the end of the semester the course(s) were taken, if the student requests grades to be included in their SPX transcript. The grades entered will be included in the student’s cumulative GPA.

Community Service Requirement

Grades 9 and 10: Freshman are required to complete 10 hours of service by the end of each semester. Sophomores are required to complete 12.5 hours each semester. Unfulfilled or incomplete projects will result in an “I” “Incomplete”. All “I” grades that result from a failure to complete the community service must be made up as soon as possible.

Grade 11: Juniors must complete 15 hours of service each semester. Unfulfilled or incomplete projects will result in an “I” - “Incomplete.” All “I” grades that result from a failure to complete the community service program must be made up as soon as possible.

Grade 12: Seniors must complete 20 hours of service each semester and must focus their service on corporal/spiritual works of mercy. Seniors who fail to satisfy their community service requirement will receive an “I” - “Incomplete” on their transcript and will not walk in the graduation ceremony. No unofficial or official transcripts or the diploma will be released until the community service requirement is met.

ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER SERVICE HOURS ON THE X2VOL WEBSITE. STUDENTS HAVE THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE COMPLETION OF SERVICE HOURS TO ENTER THEM OR THEY WILL BE FORFEITED.

Credits And Grades

All grades are recorded in letters. The 4-point grade system is used at St. Pius.

The Advanced Placement (AP) and Honor courses at St. Pius X High School are on the 5-point grade system. A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, F = 0 and no credit.

Credit is awarded on a semester basis. One half unit of credit is recorded for a semester passing grade. Each semester of a full year course is credited individually.

Credits earned at other accredited schools during the summer prior to entering the fall semester of Grade 9 are recorded on the permanent record but are not calculated in the Grade Point Average (GPA). St. Pius Summer School credit courses are calculated in the GPA.

CREDITS EARNED AT OTHER SCHOOLS AFTER ENROLLING AT ST. PIUS

Students who wish to take a course at an accredited school other than St. Pius X High School must write a formal request prior to enrolling in the course if they are seeking to receive credit for the course on their transcript. If the course is normally offered at St. Pius X High School, there must be extenuating circumstances which support the request. All requests must include a strong rationale for taking the course outside of St. Pius X High School. These requests should be submitted to the Assistant Principal for Academics and will be evaluated by the Administration.

Credits received for attending university or college courses while enrolled at St. Pius X High School will be recorded on the permanent record and included in the credits toward graduation and computation of the GPA, if so, requested by the student and approved by the St. Pius X High School administration. Correspondence course credit from an accredited institution will be accepted by St. Pius X High School upon prior approval of the St. Pius administration.

A semester failing grade remains on the transcript even though the student makes up the credit in summer school. Both grades are calculated in the Grade Point Average. If a student passes a course at St. Pius and wishes to re-take the course in summer school, both grades remain on the transcript and are averaged together when calculated in the student’s GPA.

Course Cancellation Policy

The school retains the right to cancel a course offering after registration if: a) The course enrollment is too small to justify it financially. b) A staff member is not available to teach the course. c) Physical facilities are not available for the class.

POLICY FOR CHANGING COURSES AFTER REGISTRATION - Student advisement

for registration at St. Pius X High School is a two-month process. Before students select and register for their courses for the following school year, they are required to get input from their current teachers, counselors, and parents. The purpose of this process is to ensure that the students meet their academic goals and fulfill all graduation requirements. The selections that the students make determine both class size and teacher assignments for the following school year. To ensure that class sizes remain stable for the school year, the school administration has developed the following procedure for course changes.

Students may request a change in their course selections if the request is submitted by the last day of school deadline (last final exam day) of the year preceding the school year for which the change is being sought. To request this, change students must:

1. Pick up a Request to Change a Course Form from their counselor

2. Obtain all needed signatures (counselor, parent, and student)

3. Submit the Request to Change a Course Form to the Assistant Principal – Academics by the last day of school deadline

4. Changes will be considered based on availability not all course change requests will be granted.

After the last day of school deadline, the only course selection changes that will be granted will be changes due to the following reasons:

1. Course cancellation

2. Schedule conflict

3. Student has an incomplete schedule

4. Courses are not in correct sequence

5. Student lacks a course required for graduation

6. Student does not meet the pre-requisite for the class

7. Student is misplaced in the class due to inappropriate skill level.

Course changes will not be granted for any of the following reasons:

1. Concern that the grade will bring down the student’s GPA

2. Preference for a different teacher

3. Preference for a different meeting time

4. Change of mind about taking the course.

5. Change for a different lunch

Administrative Course Changes - After the school year begins, discretionary schedule changes may be made when the administration deems it necessary to make these changes.

Report Cards

The first quarter report card will be emailed to parents or guardians after the completion of a quarter/semester. After receiving the report card, parents will have the opportunity to meet briefly with the student’s teachers in the fall at report card night. All other report cards (and senior diplomas) will be emailed or mailed when all financial and other obligations have been settled with the school.

Transcripts

One transcript of grades is provided free to all students who request it if their bills and fees are paid. A fee of one dollar, to be paid in advance, is charged for each additional transcript requested.

Academic Eligibility

To be eligible for participation/performance in sports (both in season and pre/post season) and extracurricular and co-curricular activities (including, but not limited to, visual/performing arts productions, MADAH, ACADEC, etc.) sponsored by St. Pius X, a student must abide by scholastic requirements as defined by St. Pius X.

Any student who has an established Accommodation Plan at St. Pius X will be individually evaluated for eligibility. However, if a student fails one or more classes for the quarter or the semester, the student will be ineligible to participate based on the guidelines for Academic Eligibility.

1st Quarter and 3rd Quarter Grades

To be eligible to participate in sports, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities for the following quarter, a student must have:

• no incomplete grades for the 1st or 3rd quarter

• no F’s for the 1st or 3rd quarter, and

• a GPA of 2.0 or better for the 1st or 3rd quarter. A student who does not meet these requirements will remain ineligible until the end of the applicable semester. The eligibility of students who have one or more incomplete grades is determined after all course work is completed (all incompletes must be cleared within 2 weeks after the end of the grading period).

End of 1st Semester Grades

To be eligible to participate in sports, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities for the entire third quarter**, a student must have:

• no incomplete grades for the 1st semester

• no F’s for the 1st semester, and

• a GPA of 2.0 or better for the 1st semester.

A student who does not meet these requirements will remain ineligible until the end of the third quarter, at which time the student’s eligibility will be re-evaluated. The eligibility of students who have one or more incomplete grades for the 1st semester will be determined after all course work is completed (all incompletes must be cleared within 2 weeks after the end of the grading period).

**Any student who meets the requirements for eligibility for the 1st semester, but who has earned one F for the 2nd quarter, will be ineligible for ten school days. At the end of the ten-day period, the Assistant Principal, Academics, will ascertain if the student has improved his/her work to a satisfactory level. If not, a final check will be made 5 school days later to determine eligibility. Any student who earns more than one F for the 2nd quarter, has no 1st semester failures, and whose 1st semester GPA is above a 2.0, will be ineligible for the entire third quarter.

End of 2nd Semester grades

To be eligible to participate in sports (including summer workouts) and extra-curricular activities, for the first quarter of the next school year, a student must have:

• no incomplete grades for the 2nd semester

• no F’s for the 2nd semester, and

• a GPA of 2.0 or better for the 2nd semester.

A student who does not meet these requirements will remain ineligible until the end of the first quarter of the next school year, at which time the student’s eligibility will be re-evaluated. The eligibility of students who have one or more incomplete grades for the 2nd semester will be determined after all course work is completed (all incompletes must be cleared within 2 weeks after the end of the grading period).

Any student who earns one F for the 4th quarter, has no 2nd semester failures, and whose 2nd semester GPA is above 2.0, will not be allowed to participate in any summer team activities, but will be allowed to try out for and participate in fall sports or extra-curricular or co-curricular activities starting on August 1st. Any student who has completed all 2nd semester coursework, and who has earned a 2nd semester GPA of 2.0 or better but has failed only one class for the 2nd semester may become eligible on August 1st, if that student has successfully completed a credit recovery class at St. Pius for the 2nd semester failure. If a credit recovery class is not available at St. Pius, the student must get the approval of the Assistant Principal of Academics to complete the credit recovery course through an approved program. When the credit recovery grade is received and entered into the student’s academic record, the 2nd semester GPA must remain above a 2.0 for the student to be eligible to participate on August 1st.

Grades earned in summer school may not be used to boost GPA to become eligible for the fall semester.

Academic Honors

First and Second Honors are awarded at the end of each school year to students who excel in their academic work. Students finishing the semester with at least a 3.3 GPA merit Second Honors; those with at least a 3.7 GPA merit First Honors.

National Honor Society

To be chosen as a member of the National Honor Society, a student must have leadership ability, perform service to the school and community, and maintain a 3.5 Cumulative GPA through the second semester of Grade 10. If a member falls below 3.5 in any subsequent semester, that member will be placed on onesemester probation.

Academic Letter

To recognize academic excellence, St. Pius X High School awards academic letters. Qualifications to receive a letter are as follows: (1) Students must complete the Academic Letter Request form at the beginning of the school year, (2) must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA for four semesters (need not be consecutive), and (3) must receive recommendation signatures of two teachers and the student’s counselor. Transfer students must have at least two semesters of work completed at St. Pius before being eligible to apply for a letter.

NOTE: ADDITIONS, MODIFICATIONS AND DELETIONS MAY BE MADE TO THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE ST.PIUS XHIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.